Chapter 39: Loyalty

KAITLYN

I stare at the silver necklace around my neck, shivering slightly.

I am still unable to recover from the horror I faced a few hours ago in that godforsaken underground, and questions of Jesse’s safety still haunt me.

Ana isn't answering her calls, and neither is Jesse answering his. I just hope he is fine. If he is not, then I will kill myself. I will keep comforting myself that Jesse is okay until I hear from him. Besides, he can't just kill her younger brother like that.

“Ma’am?” The headmaid cuts through my thoughts, and I look up, my heart clenching in hatred.

“What?!” I snap, glaring at her in anger.

“Your rings,” the headmaid says, looking blank.

I switch my gaze to my hand and notice that my fingers are bare.

I sigh loudly and instantly pick up all the rings on the table, wearing them all.

“The wedding band,” she points out. I sigh loudly and clench my fists.

Why is she becoming more unlikable?

I pick up the wedding band and slip it on, twitching my lips up in disgust as I stare at the diamond ring on my finger. I stand up from the seat and take a step back, then lift my gaze towards the mirror.

My jaw drops as I stare at my face. Whoever is the makeup artist did a great job on my face, and the dress I am putting on is not something that can be described with just mere words. It is beyond perfect. It seems like it was made just for me and no one else. Even though I hate the bastard, I still can't deny that he has good taste.

“You look ethereal,” The headmaid says as she stares at me in admiration.

“Thank you,” I force myself to reply. I stare down at the elegant black satin dress, and run my finger over the silver lace that adorns the one shoulder strap.

I smile in satisfaction and tap the silver heels on my feet on the ground.

Who knows how much it spends on all these accessories? Who knows how many people he killed to get the money? My face scrunches up at the thought, and the excitement I was feeling moments ago disappears.

“Come, the master is waiting,” the headmaid says and turns towards the door, shuffling forward.

“How long will you remain loyal to him?” I blurt out the sudden thought that crossed my mind.

I curse myself as she freezes and turns her head back.

“As long as I die,” she replies without hesitation.

My heart drops, and my eyes dim in shock. This woman won't fall off so easily.

“Are you that loyal to him?” I mutter in surprise.

Her eyes narrow and her shoulders square as her lips twitch up.

“Just because you are not used to being kind to people doesn't mean others aren't,” she says, and I huff loudly.

“Kind to people? More like I am not used to seeing the blood of people spill all over me,” I mutter. I step closer and place my hands on her shoulders.

“You are not doing the right thing. Do you know how many lives he has wasted?” I ask in a calm tone.

“If anybody dies by the hand of the master, then that person deserves it. He is just doing what the cops should have done a long time ago,” she mutters. I huff loudly and shake my head. This woman is ner going to change no matter what I say.

“Don't blame him. Blame powerful people like your family who hide all evil happening in the country for their own benefits,” she mutters. Now that is the limit! I won't watch this clueless woman drag my family into the mess that guy is making.

I grit my teeth in anger and sink my nails into her flesh.

“Don't you dare compare my father to that devil,” I whisper.

She suddenly stops wicing and huffs loudly.

“Of course, they are incomparable. Like I said before, you are not good at reading people. Instead, you make them the opposite of what they truly are. I hope one day your eyes open,” she says, grabs my wrist, and pulls me away from her.

“Come with me, the master doesn't like being kept waiting,” she mutters and trudges out.

I take deep breaths, trying so hard to calm myself down before strolling behind her. I can't help but glare at her. How much more evil can these people be? How much lower will they stoop?

From up the stairs, I can see him, seated comfortably on one of the couches, his legs crossed and his eyes constantly glancing at the gold wristwatch strapped around his wrist. His shoes have more sparkle than the floor beneath his feet.

His hair, which is styled back, makes him look like those famous pop boys in the 90s. I hate to say this, but he looks so good in that three-piece dark blue suit.

He is sitting so relaxed and unbothered. Anyone with no knowledge of his true nature will immediately mistake him for an angel. No wonder some people claim the devil is deceivingly charming. This is exactly how he looks, a devil with looks that could kill.

Enough of the analysis!

I move down the stairs towards him. His head snaps up, and his brows raise as he stares at me. There's surprise in his eyes. I guess he wasn't expecting me to turn out this good.

“What? You can't resist?” I ask, taunting him.

He scoffs loudly and shakes his head before standing up.

“At least, you will be squeezed into the list of the most dressed women at the party,” he replies. My pride suddenly fell, and so did my raised shoulders.

“You think I dressed up for you?” I retort. He chuckles loudly.

“Come on, take my hand,” he says, stretching out his hand.

My gaze moves from his smirking face to his outstretched hands. I huff loudly and shove him aside, then march towards the door.

He trudges after me silently and does not say a word, even as we get into the car.

He barely says a word to me, but he will constantly steal glances at me.

I did not say a word to him either, but instead fixed my eyes outside the window while watching him from the corner of my eye.

I guess he doesn't know that I can see him staring at me with those lustful gazes. His behavior continues until he drives into a large villa, almost the size of the white House.

The place is as silent as a graveyard, though uniformed armed men are walking around the large path.

One of the guards steps in front of the car, and I gasp as the car jerks to a stop, nearly hitting the fearless guard.

The guard walks over to the window and smiles when he sees Nikolai.

“You need a pass from me, too?” he asks, and the man quickly shakes his head.

“But… the woman,” he stammers, waving his hand in my direction.

Nikolai turns in my direction and chuckles.

“Oh, she is my woman,” he says.

I can tell he is warning the guard with his eyes. The guard nods and gives him directions to a private garage.

Nikolai pulls the car to a stop when he gets to the garage, then walks out of the car, ordering me to do the same.

I am trying so hard to stay calm and avoid getting in trouble for Jesse’s sake, that is, if he is still safe.

As we approach the large doors that lead into the mansion, two guards and a woman stop us.

“We would love to search,” one of the guards mutters.

Nikolai scoffs loudly and lets go of my hand, then spreads his arms.

“Go on, if you find nothing, you’re dead,” he threatens, and the man who is beginning to approach him freezes.

The two guards exchange glances, and the woman who is close to me shifts back.

“What? You don't want to search anymore?” Nikoi asks, as he stares at them, acting like he did nothing.

“We are just following others,” the man whispers in a grave voice.

Nikoi stretches his hands further.

“That is why I am telling you to search. Don't you want to do your job anymore?” he taunts.

“Go on and search, he won't do anything to you,” I blurt out. I'm sick of this constant bullying and intimidation.

The smirk on his face falls, and he spins around to look at me.

I glare at him and spread my arms, turning towards the woman close to me.

She hesitates for a moment but summons courage and sweeps her hand over my body as Nikolai watches with a frown on his face.

“She has nothing on her,” the woman says to the man.

“Forgive me!” The other male guard rushes forward and drops to his knees after going off to answer a call.

Nikolai chuckles and begins to charge into the building, pulling me along.

The doors pull open and the moment our feet step into the hall, a surpressing amount of dark auras hit me as well as a sea of piercing eyes.

It seems like Nikolai’s appearance is the most anticipated here with the way everyone’s attention is on us.

I lift my gaze with a confident smile, but my heart drops into the pit of my stomach when my eyes fall on a familiar face.

Regina?!